Running along the Scioto River and right through downtown, this trail offers spectacular views of the Columbus skyline.
The Scioto Trail is the first greenway trail built in Columbus. From North Bank Park to Bicentennial Park, this path is the spine of the city's famous Scioto Mile, a string of prominent parks, civic landmarks and promenades. Here’s our suggested route:
After visiting the Scioto Audubon Metro Park, grab a CoGo bike at the Scioto Audubon Center station. For your convenience, free Park & Bike spots are available to park your car.
Head to the trail at the Audubon Nature Center, just east of the parking lot.
Take a right onto the Lower Scioto Greenway and bike about a mile north to explore the new Scioto Greenways. The Greenways has 33 acres of new parkland and 1.5 miles of multi-use trails.
There’s a CoGo station at Bicentennial Park, just west of the trail. Stop and enjoy the Greenways or grab lunch at Milestone 229.
When you’re ready to move on, continue along the Scioto Greenway heading north, where you will venture past the Supreme Court of Ohio and City Hall on your right. On your left, you will ride along the serene Batelle Riverfront Park and Alexander Park, which offers an elevated overlook of the downtown riverfront.
You’ll arrive at the North Bank Park Pavilion, where you can stop to enjoy the various trails, events and the docks. When you’re ready, you can exit the trail by taking a right onto W. Long Street and then another quick right on Neil Avenue, where you will ride 2.5 blocks to the Neil Ave and Nationwide Blvd station to return your bike.
The total distance is approximately 2.5 miles. It should take 20 to 60 minutes, depending on how long you stop to admire the scenery. Remember, the first 30 minutes of each ride are included in the Day Pass price, and if you want to keep your bike out for longer, it's just an extra $2 for each additional 30 minutes.
If you’re looking for a longer ride, instead of exiting the trail at the North Bank Park Pavilion, you can turn around and go back the way you came. There are many exits on the trail, allowing you to venture off to see more of the city by bike. Or to reset your ride timer and avoid extra fees, just dock your bike every 30 minutes at any CoGo station along the way and pick up a new bike when you're ready to continue.